The Marine Finds His Family

“Why?” Addie’s voice was full of anger. “What for?”

“It’s not up for negotiation, Ad,” DJ said softly.

“Surely you’re not taking Tyler with you?” Mandy said, trying to sit up in the overstuffed chair. Maybe he should have given her the wooden chair. Seven months pregnant—and still keeping mum on who the father was—she was already struggling to move.

“No. He’s staying here with Wyatt.”

Wyatt nodded but didn’t speak up. DJ frowned at him in a silent thanks-for-nothing-buddy way.

“What will you accomplish, besides getting Tyler’s hopes up, and hurting him?”

“I think there’s more to this situation. Something’s not right.”

“So why do you have to go fix it?” Mandy asked. “She gave him up.” She rubbed her rounding belly as if caressing her unborn child. “She abandoned him. She doesn’t deserve to have him back.”

“I didn’t say I was giving him back to her.” DJ’s anger erupted. “He’s my son and he’s staying with this family, but Tyler needs this.”

“Why?” asked Tara, his youngest sister, sprawled on the couch on the other side of Wyatt, her sneaker-clad feet propped up on the scarred coffee table. Her head tilted just a bit to the side as she tried to understand him. She’d always been DJ’s biggest supporter; never angry, never judging, she’d quietly listened to dozens of his harebrained schemes growing up. Though he knew she’d shook her head at him many times.

“Tyler believes in her.” DJ lifted a hand to stall any more comments. “He wishes on stars to be with her.” DJ cleared his throat. “I owe it to him to at least try to figure out what’s going on.”

Jason sat forward, his forearms on his knees. “Help us out here, Emily. This could jeopardize custody. What if she does want him back? Have you considered that, DJ?” Always the lawyer, Jason thought too legally at times.

Emily frowned. “We’d need to talk to Warren.” Warren Litchfield was the judge who’d taken over DJ’s custody case once it became clear Emily had lost her objectivity as far as the boy and Wyatt—mostly Wyatt—were concerned.

“Right now, that’s not the issue. First we need to figure out what the situation is. And then decide what’s next,” DJ said.

Suddenly, half a dozen voices filled the room. Every single one of his siblings had an opinion. That was nothing new. And it also wasn’t new that he ignored them all. He’d stopped doing what they told him around the time he’d turned sixteen and realized he could drive away in a car.

“Stop it!” Tyler’s voice cut through the din. He stood in the open doorway—no one had heard or seen him come in. How long he’d been there was anyone’s guess. But from the look on his face, he’d heard plenty.

“She’s my mom. Dad has to find her.” His voice cracked. “’Fore she gets in more trouble. That man might hurt her. Like he hurt me. I know it.”

DJ rose to his feet and walked over to his son. Tyler looked up at him, imploring, with tears in his eyes. “Please, Dad. Don’t change your mind. Go find her.” Tears fell down the boy’s cheeks. “I want my mom.” Tyler threw his arms around DJ’s waist, holding tight.

Slowly, DJ took a step back so he could awkwardly kneel down to peer into his son’s face. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll find her. Everyone’s just concerned.”

“They don’t like Mama.” Tyler glared at his aunts and uncles. “But she’s the best mom. She’s just scared. She took care of me the best she could.” He hiccuped. “I just wanna go home.”

“I know.” DJ didn’t think this was the time to remind Tyler that this was his home now. Instead, he wrapped his arm around the boy’s thin shoulders and turned to face the room of people. His gaze traveled to each one. So familiar to him, but virtual strangers to Tyler. He felt Tyler lean into his side.

“As I said, this isn’t up for negotiation. It’s a done deal. I’m just letting you all know what we’re planning. You can either help, or not. Your choice. But we’d appreciate at least your support.”

The room fell silent.

Wyatt spoke first. “You got it. Whatever you need,” he said softly, holding Emily’s hand. She nodded, too.

Wyatt nudged Tara in the ribs. “Hey, I’ve always supported him, even with the insane things.” Everyone, even Tyler, laughed.

“I’ll do whatever you need on the legal end. Just let me know.” Jason nodded.

“You got it.” Mandy smiled. “Though, in this condition, I’m not much help to anyone.” She ran a loving hand over her tummy again, smiling. “Hey, little one, soon you’ll get to meet all these aunts and uncles. And a cousin, too,” she whispered to the baby.

Addie was the only holdout. And she was the only one besides Wyatt who Tyler really knew. Don’t let him down, DJ silently pleaded. DJ hugged Tyler, then walked over to face his older sister.

“You...you just be careful, okay?” She stood and faced him. “I know you think you’re the mighty warrior, but we just got you back.” Her voice broke.

“I’ll be careful, Ad.” He looked down at his older sister and saw the sheen in her eyes. “I promise.” He glanced back at his son. “I have a whole lot more to lose now.”

* * *

THE EVEN MOTION of the late-night city bus nearly lulled Tammie to sleep. When something hard hit her shoulder, she jerked awake. Her arms tightened around her backpack the same instant a skinny arm snaked over her shoulder. Dirty, clawlike fingers grasped the strap and tugged hard.

Tammie was worn-out but not stupid.

The would-be thief got more than he bargained for when she yanked hard. “No!” she cried, ripping her backpack free.

“Bitch.” The boy spit out the word easily and lunged over the seat.

“Hey!” the bus driver yelled. “What’s going on back there?”

“Mind your business, old man.”

Tammie took the opportunity to stand and wobble through the aisle, the backpack clutched to her chest. She settled in the seat right behind the driver.

A bus stop loomed ahead and the driver pulled over to the curb. “Off!” the driver yelled. The boy stood, cursing as he exited through the rear doors. She heard his steps fade away in the darkness.

“You, too, lady.”

“But—”

“I’m done for the night. Don’t need no more trouble. Go on.”

The old man glared at her and inclined his head to the open door.

“But my stop’s the next one.”

“Then you won’t have far to walk. Move it.”

The dark night was thick outside the lights of the bus. She knew where she was, but that didn’t lessen her fear of walking through this neighborhood at night. Alone. Heck, she didn’t walk it in the daylight. She normally got off right across the street from work.

The doors squeaked shut and the strong smell of diesel filled the air as the bus moved away. No time for standing around. She had three blocks to go. Three long, dark blocks.

Her footsteps seemed loud in the darkness as she nearly ran, glancing over her shoulder several times, just in case the thief was still lurking in the shadows.

Tammie clung tight to the backpack she’d filled all those months ago in Florida, cataloging what was inside with each step. Her toiletries. Her underwear. Two pairs of jeans, one set of sweats and three T-shirts. Her wallet. A set of keys that now belonged to nothing since she’d sold her car and had abandoned her house. Two sample pieces of the jewelry she’d made that had been in the pack from that last, fateful show. They’d still been in the pack when she’d tossed in everything else.

And there was a book.